Game Preview, Week 12: Giants at Redskins

Posted on November 22, 2017 by Steve Thomas

by Steve Thomas and Sean Conte

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! I wish I could bring better news for the holidays, but the simple fact is that the result of Redskins losses in the previous two weeks is that our favorite team is completely out of leeway if they still have any hope of a playoff spot. This week’s game against the New York Giants is a must-win game in every sense of the word. The Giants are only 2-8 and are traveling to Washington, and the Redskins are 0 – 3 in the NFC East so far. Please don’t come out flat, Redskins – the team desperately needs a solid manhandling of the floundering Giants in order to keep the season on life support. Unfortunately, though, the injury situation this week has gone from “incredibly bad” to “lowest floor of hell” bad, with multiple starters having their seasons ended, including Chris Thompson, Spencer Long, Shawn Lauvao, and Terrelle Pryor, Sr. But really – if there’s a team to play in this sort of crisis situation, it’s the 2017 New York Giants. You have no excuse, Redskins. This needs to be a big, easy, injury-free win. Here’s this week’s preview.

Game time & location: Thursday, November 23, 2017, 8:30 p.m. ET, Fed Ex Field, Raljon, MD; Parking lots open at 12:00 p.m.; gates open at 6:30 p.m.

Television: NBC

Television announcers: Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Heather Cox

DC-area radio: ESPN 980

Redskins radio network: http://www.redskins.com/media-gallery/radio-network.html

Giants radio network: http://www.giants.com/games-and-schedules/broadcast-information.html

Satellite radio: XM: 83/88 (Redskins broad./Nat’l broad.) Sirius: 83/88 (Redskins broad./Nat’l broad); internet: 831 (Redskins broad.)

Redskins roster: http://www.redskins.com/team/roster.hml

Redskins depth chart: http://www.redskins.com/team/depth-chart.html

Giants roster: http://www.giants.com/team/roster.html

Giants depth chart: http://www.giants.com/team/depth-chart.html

All-time head-to-head record vs Giants: 66 – 98 – 4 (last 10: 3 – 7)

Last meeting: L, January 1, 2017, 10 – 19

Early odds: Redskins, -9

SEAN’S 5 KEYS TO THE GAME

After two straight weeks of embarrassing losses, the Redskins have to win this one against a struggling New York team, right? Right.

Keep the Offensive Pace from Last Week

The Redskins scored in every quarter last week, piling 31 great, though ultimately insufficient, points on the Saints defense. If they can keep that pace going this week against New York, they’ll be in great shape. In total defense, New York is ranked 31st. They’re poorly ranked against the run and the pass alike, so that should help open things up.

Defensive Aggression Should Pay Dividends

Eli Manning’s offensive line is almost as depleted as our own. For some reason, the Chiefs chose not to exploit that this week to their own peril, gifting the Giants with their second win of the season. If we can generate pressure against Manning consistently, we should be in great shape, especially because deep threat pro-bowler Odell Beckham Jr. is on injured reserve. Kerrigan and the guys up front should find pay dirt this week.

Watch for Shenanigans

Turns out, Washington isn’t the only team in the NFC East to pull off a fake punt run last week; the Giants did too. They also dialed up some option plays and strange formations along the offensive line. As others have noted, the Giants aren’t a stacked team on offense and these are the sorts of gimmicks they’ll need to rely on for the rest of the season. We’ll need to be aware of that.

Limit the Critical Mistakes

We simply cannot undo strong play with avoidable penalties. That means no hands to the face, no false starts that back us out of scoring range, and no errant throws by Kirk that end up directly in the opposing CB’s bread basket. He’s been playing well recently, but he’s now lucked out for multiple consecutive weeks with opposing defenses dropping catchable INTs. We are a team that is fully capable of beating itself. Let’s not.

Serve it up to Doctson and Davis

With Terrelle Pryor, Sr. and Chris Thompson out and Jordan Reed questionable (at least at this point in the week), is there any doubt who needs to shoulder much of the offensive workload this week? At the same time, utilizing Ryan Grant, Jamison Crowder, and Jeremy Sprinkle should help keep some of the heat off our workhorses. The game will be won by those guys. Considering how poor the Giants are against the run, however, could mean another breakout game for Perine.

SEAN’S 3 KEY MATCHUPS

Kerrigan and Brown vs. Hart and Jerry

The Giants’ D.J. Fluker is potentially out this week, meaning their offense could be particularly susceptible on the right side. Stacy McGee could play a role here as well.

Josh Norman vs. King and/or Lewis

No one in the Giants’ receiving corps is a legitimate weapon, so this should be an easy week for our guys in coverage. It’s really hard to type that knowing the Redskins are fully capable of making anyone look like a world beater, but there you have it.

McAdoo vs. Manusky

It might just be a battle of the minds this week, as two teams with questionable talent on both sides of the ball face off. McAdoo got creative last week and it worked out. Can Manusky keep up? Just remember: nothing has been more dangerous to the Redskins in recent years than a Giants team with nothing to lose.

SEAN CUTS TO THE CHASE

The Redskins nearly cause heart attacks across the DC region by letting this one stay closer than it has any right to be, but ultimately they come through. 24 – 13, Redskins.

OFFICIAL INJURY REPORT (as of Friday (active roster only)) (starters in bold)

LP – limited practice FP – full practice DNP – did not practice

NIR – not injury related Q – questionable O – out

D – doubtful

Redskins	Giants
LB Z. Brown, achilles; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q	G D.J. Fluker, toe; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O
G S. Lauvao, stinger; Mon: DNP; Tues: to IR	LB B.J. Goodson, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O
C S. Long, knee/knee; Mon: DNP ; Tues: to IR	DT D. Harrison, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
DL T. McClain, toe; Mon: DNP ; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O	LB C. Munson, quad; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: D
S M. Nicholson, concussion; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O	OL J. Pugh, back; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O
WR T. Pryor, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: to IR	DE O. Vernon, shoulder; Mon: DNP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
TE J. Reed, hamstring; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O	RB O. Darkwa, hamstring; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP
C. Roullier, hand; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: O	DE J. Pierre-Paul, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP
LB M. Spaight, ankle; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: Q	WR S. Shepard, illness; Mon: LP; Tues: DNP; Wed: DNP; game: Q
RB C. Thompson, fibula; Mon: DNP; Tues: to IR	LB K. Sheppard, groin; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
T. Williams, knee; Mon: DNP; Tues: DNP; ; Wed: DNP; game: Q	DT D. Tomlinson, ankle; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP
LB R. Anderson, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q	LB J. Casillas, neck; Mon: not listed; Tues: not listed; Wed: FP; game: Q
DL M. Ioannidis, hand/thigh; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q	LS Z. DeOssie, trap; Mon: not listed; Tues: not listed; Wed: FP; game: Q
DL A. Lanier II, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
T M. Moses, eye/ankle/ankle; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
T. Nsekhe, core muscle; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
RB S. Perine, finger; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
G B. Scherff, knee; Mon: LP; Tues: LP; Wed: LP; game: Q
TE V. Davis, back; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP
CB Q. Dunbar, illness; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP
WR B. Quick, concussion; Mon: FP; Tues: FP; Wed: FP

TEAM STATISTICS

Redskins:

Not that it mattered in the end, but the Redskins offense numbers actually took a big step up as a result of the New Orleans game. They remain mid-pack in points scored, but are now top 10 in total yards, yards per game, and passing yards. The rushing statistics also took an uptick, rising from “awful” to “less awful” as a result of Samaje Perine’s 100 yard day. The one area in which the Redskins continue to be substantially better than the 2016 team is in red zone efficiency – Washington is ranked 9th with 59.38% of drives into the red zone resulting in touchdowns. With leading receiver and rushing Chris Thompson now out for the season, the Redskins will have to turn to someone else to continue to generate yards and scores. Kirk Cousins continues to have a fairly impressive statistical season despite the injuries and lack of talent around him, and in fact is 7th in QB rating, at 101.8.

Defensively, the Redskins plummeted across the board as a result of the recent losses, and are now 31st in the NFL in points allowed, 24th in total yards allowed, 25th in passing yards allowed, and 19th in rushing yards allowed. While recognizing that the team has been hit by an unbelievable number of injuries, nonetheless, this defense has not performed substantially better than the 2016 team in any area except run defense. Fortunately, the New York Giants might just be a “get well soon” present in this regard.

Record 4 – 6 (3rd) (Home: 2 – 4; NFC: 3 – 5; NFC East: 0 – 3)

All-time franchise record: 590 – 578 – 28

Offense

Offensive rankings	12 (points) (trend even) / 9 (total yards) (trend +6) / 9 (yards per game) (trend +4) / 8 (yards per play) (trend +3) / 7 (passing yards) (trend +2) / 4 (passing yards per att.) (trend +1) / 18 (rushing yards) (trend +6) / 23 (rushing yards per att.) (trend -1)
Points for	238
Yards per game	359.4
Passing	345 att (15th); 230 comp; 66.7% comp per. (6th); 8.1 Y/A; 2568 net yds; 17 TD; 5 Int
Passing leader	Cousins (345 att, 2796 yds (3rd), 66.7% comp perc., 17 TDs / 5 Int, 101.8 QB rating (7th)
Receiving leader	Thompson (510 yds (39th), 54 targets (57th), 39 rec (45th), 4 TDs, 13.1 Y/C)
Rushing	265 att (17th); 1026 yds; 3.9 Y/A; 102.6 Y/G (18th); 9 TD
Rushing leader	Perine (89 att, 327 yds (40th), 1 TD, 3.7 Y/A, long 30)
Sacks surrendered / rank	25 / 17th
Ave time of possession / rank	30:40 / 12
3rd down conversion rate / rank	36.7% / 22
TD percentage in red zone / rank	59.38% / 9

Defense

Defensive rankings	31 (points) (trend -5) / 24 (total yards) (trend -4) / 24 (yards per game surrendered) (trend -4) / 26 (yards per play) (trend -5) / 25 (passing yards) (trend -8) / 25 (passing yards per att.) (trend -4) / 19 (rushing yards) (trend -6) / 22(rushing yards per att.) (trend -5)
Points against	266
Yards per game surrendered	363.6
Opponent’s passing	341 att (15th); 215 comp; 63.0% comp perc. (18th); 7.7 Y/A; 2490 net yds; 18 TDs; QB Rating 91.0 (17th)
Opponent’s rushing	264 att (15th); 1146 yds; 4.3 Y/A; 8 TD; 114.6 Y/G (19th)
Sacks / rank / Sack leader	24 / 16 / Kerrigan (7.0)
Tackles leader	Brown (67)
Int / rank / Int leader	11 / 7 / Fuller, Swearinger (3)
Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank	41.98% / 23
Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank	63.64% / 28

Special Teams

Kick returns	20.8 Y/R (22nd), 15 returns, long 29 yards, 0 TDs
Punt returns	5.0 Y/R (31st), 15 returns, long 18 yards (28th), 0 TD
Kick return defense	19.7 Y/R (8th), 17 returns, 0 TD
Punt return defense	10.0 Y/R (24th), 20 returns, 0 TD
Punting	45.0 Y/P (17th)

Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 15 / 15 / 0 / 18

Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 56 / 2

Giants:

The Giants offense has produced atrocious results. Granted, much like the Redskins, they had a large number of injuries, but right now, New York has only scored 162 points on the season, which is 30th in the NFL. Eli Manning continues to Eli, with a 63.6% completion percentage and an 87.0 QB rating. Orleans Darkwa is the player who has produced the most this season, in limited action, with 4.8 yards per carry on just 101 attempts.

New York’s defense is no better than the offense, statistically, with bottom 10 or even bottom 5 rankings in almost ever major category. Ironically, the most important stat, points, is the one area that is less than terrible for the Giants, at 21st in the NFL. In other areas, though, it’s been awful: total yards (31st), passing yards (29th), rushing yards (30th), sacks (32nd), third down conversions (27th). The Giants’ sole redeeming quality is toughness in the red zone (ranked 12th).

Record: 2 – 8 (4th) (Away: 1 – 4; NFC: 0 – 7; NFC East: 0 – 2)

Offense

Offensive rankings	30 (points) / 24 (total yards) / 24 (yards per game) / 21 (yards per play) / 19 (passing yards) / 29 (passing yards per att.) / 26 (rushing yards) / 18 (rushing yards per att.)
Points for	162
Yards per game	308.5
Passing	371 att (7th); 234 comp; 63.1% comp per. (10th); 6.2 Y/A; 2165 net yds; 14 TDs; 7 Int
Passing leader	Manning (368 att, 2298 yds (12th), 63.6% comp per., 14 TDs / 6 Int, 87.0 QB rating (21st))
Reception leader	Shepard (475 yds (45th), 51 targets, 38 rec, 1 TD, 12.5 Y/C); Engram (452 yds, 78 targets, 41 rec (37th), 5 TD, 11.0 Y/C)
Rushing	230 att (29th); 920 yds; 4.0 Y/A; 92.0 Y/G (26th); 3 TDs
Rushing leader	Darkwa (101 att, 489 yds (19th), 2 TDs, 4.8 Y/A (7th), long 47 yds)
Sacks surrendered / rank	22 / 11
Ave time of possession / rank	28:02 / 29
3rd down conversion rate / rank	34.1% / 29
TD percentage in red zone / rank	54.17% / 15

Defense

Defensive rankings	21 (points) / 31 (total yards) / 31 (yards per game surrendered) / 28 (yards per play) / 29 (passing yards) / 25 (passing yards per att.) / 30 (rushing yards) / 23 (rushing yards per att.)
Points against	247
Yards per game surrendered	396.6
Opponent’s passing	354 att (24th); 221 comp; 62.4% comp per. (16th); 7.7 Y/A; 2639 net yds; 20 TD; QB Rating 96.6 (26th)
Opponent’s rushing	303 att (30th); 1327 yds; 4.4 Y/A; 9 TD
Sacks / rank / Sack leader	14 / 32 / Pierre-Paul (4.5)
Tackles leader	Collins (49)
Int / rank / Int leader	7 / 21 / Collins, Jenkins (2)
Opponent 3rd down conv rate / rank	42.75% / 27
Opponent TD percentage in red zone / rank	48.57% / 12

Special Teams

Kick returns	20.4 Y/R (23rd), 16 returns, long 30 yards, 0 TDs
Punt returns	5.8 Y/R (25th), 13 returns, long 20 yards (26th), 0 TDs
Kick return defense	22.9 Y/R (22nd), 19 returns, 0 TDs
Punt return defense	11.6 Y/R (31st), 27 returns, 1 TD
Punting	44.2 Y/P (24th)

Turnovers (lost by O / recv’d by D / net / rank): 12 / 12 / 0 / 18

Penalties (total accepted # / rank): 59 / 5

* Statistics courtesy of www.pro-football-reference.com, www.nflpenalties.com, www.nfl.com, www.teamrankings.com, www.espn.com, www.sportingcharts.com